You can read this on our Italian channel here.
Italian sprinting ace Andrea Vergani has been temporarily suspended by Italy’s Anti-Doping Federation, NADO Italia for having tested positive for cannabis.
The reported positive result came from a test conducted on April 2nd of this year, conducted at the Italian National Championships in Riccione. At those Championships, Vergani took the Italian National title in the men’s 50m freestyle, clocking a time of 21.53, a mark that ranks the 21-year-old #1 in the world.
Official Statement (translated from Italian):
Given the request for immediate suspension from the competitive activity of the athlete Andrea Vergani , registered with the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN), presented on 19 April 2019 by the National Anti-Doping Prosecutor’s Office at the Second Section of the TNA.
R acknowledged that the athlete in question was positive for the substance THC metabolite> DL for the analysis of the first competing control sample carried out by the Anti-Doping Control Committee on 2 April 2019, in Riccione (RN), on the occasion of the “Championships Absolute Italians “
SwimSwam will continue to report developments.
Happy to see literally no one cares about this young Italian swimmer smoking weed. How about we focus on the country that systemically had their athletes doping and was banned from the Olympics instead of busting the weed smoker?
Unfortunately thus young Italian swimmer may very well be out of the ISL. Braden may have more insight though
Based on all information we’re receiving, thus far, they seem to be holding firm on their “Zero tolerance” policy. I’ve heard some questions about whether Amanda Kendall might get a waiver because she never tested positive, she confessed to using a banned substance by declaring it on her form, and her test actually came back negative. I personally don’t think she’ll get a pass, but I know the question has been asked.
I think the athletes are now learning the hard way why FINA isn’t as hard-line as some people claim they would like. Feels like “if it’s China or Russia, BAN THEM FOR LIFE, but if it’s my friend, or if they’re smoking the same stuff I smoke, then… Read more »
What the hell man. cannabis usage shouldn’t result in any bans or suspensions it doesn’t even help you in any way. He probably just got high a couple weeks ago
But did they find the Credence, man?
Stuff stays in your system for weeks. Don’t see it as a PED IMO.
Dumbest rule in the books….
Gary Hall Jr. also tested positive for cannabis. Won gold in the 50 free a couple years later.
Really should have put cannabis in the title as well.
Absolutely idiotic to ban for this. All the people thinking this is okay are brainwashed people who know nothing about marijuana. Literally the same level as Having an ice bath for recovery, recovery! That’s it not a super human recovery drug. This pissed me off